A brisk spring Sunday was perfect for the 81st running of the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point races, April 7 at the Myrick Conservation Center.

The race day is one of the main fundraisers for the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The organization’s mission is to promote the restoration, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural resources of the Brandywine and Red Clay Watersheds through education, scientific activities, environmental stewardship and advocacy. The race day also brings the public to the organization’s Myrick Conservation Center to enjoy the beautiful rolling fields and woods of the property.

Volunteers are a big part of making the race day a success. One of those was first time race volunteer and race attendee Liz Brown from West Chester. She had heard about the volunteer opportunity through a fellow member of the Kennett Rotary Club. 

“I think it’s lovely. I enjoy watching the children run on the smaller horses and seeing the hounds run and I’m looking forward to seeing some of the other races,” Brown said. 

The day starts with pony races that get young riders out onto the race course, including the youngest riders in a leadline race.  

“A lot of the riders in the bigger timber races today started their career pony racing,” said Regina Welsh of Monkton, Md., whose six-year-old daughter, Imogen, took second place in the leadline pony race. “I always love Brandywine. They’re always hospitable and it’s a great facility, a great property, and a great training ground for young jockeys …They realize this is the next generation coming up through the ranks.”

When the timber races began it was a special day for eighteen-year-old jockey Scarlette Davies. After winning the Ladies Timber Race on Brave Deacon, she was treated to a dousing with cold water to celebrate her first win over timber. 

“I did not (expect the dunking). I knew it’s a thing they do, but I was not paying attention and I didn’t really think about it. I was still thinking about my race.  It was a shock,” Davies said.